technique

technique — noun

1. any specific, skill-based method used to carry out a task or activity, typically

1.nounB1
Definition

any specific, skill-based method used to carry out a task or activity, typically one developed through practice or training to improve effectiveness.

Example

Christopher learned a new breathing <hl>technique</hl> to help him stay calm before his piano exams.

technique + to-infinitive (purpose)

The chef's secret <hl>technique</hl> for making the sauce involves adding a pinch of cinnamon at the very end.

technique for + gerund

Common collocations
  • learn a technique
  • develop a technique
  • master a technique
  • use a technique
  • technique for
  • study technique
  • breathing technique
  • teaching technique
  • marketing technique
  • painting technique
Synonyms
  • method

    more general; a technique is typically a method that requires some skill or training

  • approach

    focuses on the overall way of dealing with a situation rather than a specific step-by-step method

  • procedure

    more formal and refers to a fixed, often official, sequence of steps

  • strategy

    a long-term plan for achieving a goal, broader in scope than a single technique

Grammar Patterns

technique + for + noun/gerund

technique + to-infinitive

possessive + technique

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a specific method (e.g., 'three different techniques'). Uncountable when referring to the general concept (e.g., 'Technique is more important than speed').

Common Mistakes

I learned a new technology for baking bread.
I learned a new technique for baking bread.
Technology refers to machinery or digital systems; technique refers to a method or way of doing something.
She has a good technique of swimming.
She has good swimming technique.' or 'She has a good technique for swimming.
Use 'technique for + gerund' or a noun modifier before 'technique', not 'technique of + gerund'.

2. the level of skill and control that someone shows when performing a practical or

2.nounB1
Definition

the level of skill and control that someone shows when performing a practical or creative activity, especially one that requires physical coordination or artistic judgment.

Example

The gymnast's <hl>technique</hl> on the balance beam was so flawless that the judges awarded her a perfect score.

possessive + technique + on + [domain]

After years of practice, Esteban developed a carpenter's <hl>technique</hl> for making joints fit without gaps.

develop + technique + of + [skilled person]

Common collocations
  • good technique
  • poor technique
  • improve technique
  • develop technique
  • perfect technique
  • swimming technique
  • golf technique
  • surgical technique
  • singing technique
  • dancing technique
Synonyms
  • skill

    broader; can refer to natural ability, while technique emphasises learned control

  • proficiency

    more formal; focuses on how well something can be done, especially after training

  • craftsmanship

    limited to manual or artistic work; implies high quality and careful attention to detail

  • expertise

    suggests a high level of knowledge as well as skill, not just physical ability

Antonyms
  • clumsiness

    the opposite of good technique in physical activities

  • inexperience

    lack of practice usually results in poor technique

Grammar Patterns

possessive + technique

adjective + technique

[domain] technique

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'a good technique' for sense 2; instead say 'good technique'. If you hear 'a technique', it is almost certainly sense 1 (a specific method).

Common Mistakes

He has a very good technique in playing basketball.
He has very good technique in basketball.' or 'His basketball technique is very good.
Sense 2 is uncountable, so no article 'a' is used.
She needs to improve her techniques.
She needs to improve her technique.
When referring to overall skill level, technique is uncountable.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe ways of doing things, but they differ in scope and formality. A technique is a learned skill-based way of performing a task — it implies practice and know-how (e.g., 'a breathing technique for relaxation'). A method is the most general term for any orderly way of doing something, and it does not necessarily require skill ('a simple method for boiling eggs'). An approach is broader and more conceptual, describing how you think about or frame a problem ('a student-centred approach to teaching'). A procedure is a fixed, often official sequence of steps, commonly used in workplaces or formal settings ('the safety procedure for a fire drill'). A strategy is the longest-term and most big-picture of the five — it is a plan for achieving a major goal rather than for handling a single task ('a marketing strategy for entering a new market'). In practice, these words often overlap: a 'teaching technique' could also be called a 'teaching method', but calling it a 'teaching strategy' would suggest a much wider plan than a single classroom activity.

technique ↗method ↗approach ↗procedure ↗strategy ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • matter of technique
  • range of techniques
  • fundamentals of technique

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'technique' entered English from French in the early 1800s. French borrowed it from Latin 'technicus', which came from Greek 'tekhnikós' (relating to art or craft). The Greek root 'tékhnē' meant 'art, skill, or craft' — the same root that gives us 'technology' and 'technical'. For much of its history, technique was associated mainly with the fine arts and crafts; its broader use for any skilled method developed over the 19th and 20th centuries.